May 8, 2023

As the school year comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate all that our county’s teachers and students have accomplished. Below, you will find short articles about a few of the history and civic opportunities that the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) supports to provide students the chance to think critically about important topics and to experience the ways in which they can apply their learning outside of the classroom walls. These are just a couple of examples, as I know that there are many more that occur in our schools and districts.  

I also want to celebrate the teaching and learning that goes on in history-social science classes every day. As we look back on another year of teaching history-social science, it's clear that the work you do is more important than ever. The stories that you and your students investigated, the perspectives you offer them to explore, and the perspectives they brought to the classroom, as well as the lessons you imparted are all integral to shaping the way they will view and navigate the complexities of the modern world. 

Therefore, I wanted to say how much I appreciate the work that goes on in our schools. And, I wanted to wish you a safe and restful summer.

Matt Hayes

History-Social Science Coordinator, SDCOE

858-295-8857

San Diego High School Mock Trial Reaches Record Participation

The 2023 San Diego County High School Mock Trial competition had record participation. The competition included 30 teams and 750 students from all over the county. This year, Westview High School won and went on to compete in the state competition. This program seeks to help high school students develop into better citizens by familiarizing them with our Constitution and Bill of Rights through a mock trial competition. 

This year, Westview High School won the county competition and went on to the state level. Additionally, Southwest High School won the David H. Bartick Civility Award.

San Diego County Board of Education Appoints New Student Board Members

The San Diego County Board of Education annually appoints five student board members and five alternate board members. Each student board member represents one of the five county board districts and serves a two month term on a rotating basis. San Diego County student board members are seated with all other board members, can make motions, and participate in discussions on important issues. They are also given the opportunity to provide a preferential vote. At its April 12 meeting, the board voted unanimously to appoint the 2023-24 student board members.

To learn more about the student board members and how your students can apply to be part of the 2024-25 cohort, visit the San Diego County Board of Education Student Board Member website. 

Model Curricula

Assembly Bill 167, Chapter 252 (Statutes of 2021) paved the way for the development and maintenance of model curricula relating to the Vietnamese American refugee experience, the Cambodian genocide, Hmong history and cultural studies, and Native American studies. Statute required the California Department of Education (CDE) to contract with county offices of education to develop model curricula to support these projects. Work began earlier in 2022 and will conclude by September 2025. More information can be found at:

• 167 Model Curriculum Projects Funding Results
• Model Curriculum Projects (Orange County Department of Education) 
• Native American Studies Model Curriculum (Humboldt County Office of Education) 
• Native American Studies Model Curriculum (SDCOE) 

California Regional Ethnic Studies Collaborative Professional Learning

Join educators in a dynamic, free professional learning webinar to support implementation of the CDE’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum. During three spring sessions, educators will explore the resources and best practices included in the model curriculum, learn about community-based pedagogies, and understand the role of the four foundational studies of ethnic studies to support high-quality ethnic studies implementation.

• April 13: Looking into the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (Recording available soon).
• May 11: Designing Community-Based Ethnic Studies Projects
• June 8: Centering the Core: African American, American Indian, Latino/a, Chicano/a, and Asian American studies

All sessions are from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Register for the ethnic studies webinars.

For questions about registration, contact Maria Hynes. For questions about workshop content, contact Matt Hayes.

History-Social Science Educators and Leaders Network

History-social science lead teachers, teachers on special assignment, and administrators will form a network to learn about current state and local initiatives and share ideas for implementation. Participants will meet virtually throughout the year. Feel free to participate in the meetings that work for your schedule. Learn more and register for the network. 

Street Law

Street Law supports civic education with a focus on the judicial system. Its mission is to help people understand how law and government work, effectively advocate for themselves and others, and recognize the importance of their role as engaged participants in civic life. Educators can access Street Law's free curricular materials here.

Judges in the Classroom

Judges in the Classroom pairs a sitting judge with classrooms at all grade levels (K-12 in person and grades 3-12 virtual) to engage in a lesson that teaches students about the judicial branch of government. Requests are now being accepted for the 2022-23 school year.